Goal Setting
Goal setting is one of the best ways to get motivated and push your skill level to, well, the next level. Many people decide that they want to get better, but make their goals vague that there is no tangible way of ever achieving them. An example would be someone that would say, I want to get better at swimming in 2008. It is great this person wants more for himself or herself, but this type of goal is far too ambiguous. Good goal setting follows the S.M.A.R.T. principles (Acronyms are totally in right now, vague goals are so not)
Goals should be: S = Specific, M = Measurable, A = Attainable, R = Realistic, T = Timely.
A SPECIFIC way to get better at swimming in 2008 could be to dedicate to, for example, coming to 3 masters practices a week and going to the gym twice a week (assuming that you were doing less than this before of course…) This goal is also MEASURABLE. To determine if your goal would be measurable, ask questions such as, How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?
To determine if your goal is ATTAINABLE ask yourself, Can I do it? You can attain just about any goal by setting up a step-by-step plan and establishing a time frame that allows you to progress through those steps. Goals that may seem lofty or out of reach will eventually move closer and become more attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because YOU grow and progress to match them.
To determine if your goal is REALISTIC ask yourself, Am I truly willing to do what it takes? High goals can very well be realistic. In fact, high goals are often better than low goals because low goals won’t give you much motivation. They are easy and therefore not all that exciting to go for. It is totally up to you how high the goal, but do not be afraid to shoot for goals beyond what you have achieved in the past. The past does not mean anything about what the potential is for the future!
Finally, set goals that you can achieve within a timeframe that will not be beyond the burnout threshold. An example would be if you wanted to do an Ironman Triathlon. If you are a beginner or in bad shape, this is a long-term goal that will take a substantial amount of time to prepare for. Without smaller steps and achievements along the way, you increase your risk of falling victim to the dreaded burnout. Short-term goals that lead up to your long-term goal will sustain your motivation and have the potential to build on it. A sprint triathlon might be a more timely, short-term goal for a newbie.
A final note:
When you list your goals and share them with other people you are building your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them. Make your goals real by writing them on paper, sharing them with friends and you will likely gain support and admiration, which are great motivators for success!
- Coach Dan